Microsoft Office for Apple iPad?

Is Microsoft Office coming to the iPad? It may be more likely than you think. Apple already positioned itself to make the iPad a bit of a content-creator by offering their iWork suite along with the keyboard dock. With MacWorld in session this week (February 8-13th) the Office for Mac Team had some interesting information to share.

MacRumors.com is has rounded up the reports and it boils down to this: the Office for Mac team did a presentation during the MacWorld Expo. Senior Product Manager for the team, Mike Tedesco noted that they were “looking at” bringing the Office suite to the iPad. During the Office for Mac 2011 presentation, Tedesco noted that while they were looking into it, “[the iPad] is really fresh and there’s nothing to announce or nothing that I can talk to you about today.”

Of course, this can lead to rampant speculation. And why shouldn’t we? If Microsoft took the iPhone / iPad operating system seriously, that could mean the iPad may find itself in more places than traditionally imagined. That isn’t to say Microsoft’s software gives it more ‘credibility’, but it certainly offers the iPad a greater appeal. Productivity is a key software feature that determines device proliferation.

If the Office for Mac team goes ahead and does this, you then have to factor in prices. Since Pages, Numbers and Keynote are all being offered at $9.99, that means the basic suite literally costs less than $30. Will the Office suite cost somewhere in that price range? If it doesn’t, will it be offering more than the Apple alternative?

MacRumors thought it was fitting to end this speculation on a humorous anecdote.

Tedesco’s comments come soon after Microsoft founder Bill Gates downplayed the significance of the iPad, noting that “there’s nothing on the iPad I look at and say, ‘Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.'”

To be fair, Bill Gates never wanted to be Apple, which is why the companies took different directions. But in honesty, while MacRumors might’ve been using this quote in jest, it’s most likely truthful commentary from Gates. Microsoft’s approach to tablet computing has been completely different. Still, it’s worth noting and speculating on Microsoft’s venture onto the much hyped iPad.

MacWorld Expo has a special iPad event coming on Saturday, February 13. We’ll be sure to keep tabs on any more development.